Day 2 - October 7th
The troops have started to arrive and we can feel the excitement as the group grows in Cusco. I could feel my stomach drop as we took the hard turn in the plane to land in a city situated in a valley amongst the Andes. With every new arrival, there’s a sigh of relief…one more person who has made it! Although there’s definitely some exhaustion be it from; jet lag, the effects of the 11,150 ft altitude, or just not knowing when it’s time to put down the guitars and go to bed, there’s an energy in the air that keeps us going. The city was alive with thousands of people carrying signs, lighting fireworks and shouting…we would like to think it was in celebration of our arrival but alas it was a massive local strike which delayed some arrivals but brought excitement all the same. Music seems to follow us wherever we go…either that, or we’re just bringing it wherever WE go! The local music fills the streets and the jam sessions have already begun. I think it goes without saying that we’re all excited for the rest of the gang to arrive tomorrow so we can embark upon this adventure that we’ve all worked so hard to get to. We’ve had people arriving from all over the world, leaving significant others, friends and colleagues to take care of the home front while we’re gone. There’s real sense of something powerful happening here that brought each and every one of us to make the sacrifices we’ve made to get here. So as we sign off for today, I think we should take a moment to say thank you to those of you who have helped us get here. Without all of you that are reading this journal, it wouldn’t be possible, your support is what will be carrying us up the mountain and you are with us every step of the way….so thank you, thank you, thank you! Video journals will begin October 8 once the entire team has arrived. We have received all of the additions to the prayer flags this week. Thank you for allowing your loved ones to be with us along our journey.
Erin Foley
October 7, 2008
Cusco, Peru
Rock out that air mic Erin!!!!!
Good luck to you all.
In a strange mirror of what you are doing,I am visiting the remote and abandoned city of Denbigh at lunchtime!
x steve aj
Hey Nick, hope the journey to Peru went well, now the fun part can start… Buen viaje, amigo (and that’s about all the Spanish you’ll get out of me, though you may find ‘Yo toco la guitarra’ comes in handy
Hugs, Px
Hi Kat!
Good luck on your trek, we all wish you well from Endeavour House.
I have been on a course to be a better boss, so a jar of marmalade is waiting for you here!
Need more pictures of you on the site so we can see how much fun you are having!
love u lots
dxxx
Hey Cherron! Glad to see you arrived safely. Best of luck! Looks like you are having a blast already. The pictures are amazing. So proud of you. Love, Janine
Good luck in your journey!
Besos y Carinos, Tia & Tio
Damien, Prayers & Love
Tracey, how are you enjoying your first few days. There’s a pic of you on the website with coffee(?) and you look like “OMG WTF have I gotten into???”
Good luck!
Mike, James, Shannon, and the rest of the Trekkers,
You are all in our hearts as you embark on yet another amazing journey. Best of luck to you all. Jayelee, Terri, and I will be following your journey daily, as we did with Everest Rocks! Be safe, and of course, Love Hope & Strength to you all!
Greg
Merc, loved your picture, but you’re not smiling. I think I’m going to wear my red shirt the one that says “GO Merc GO” for the duration of this trip, so that you know I’ve got your back. Everyone here is doing great. Love you Anna
George,
Try to get your face into some of those pictures! I see Cherron (2x), Kennedy (2x), but no George. I do see a guy in a green shirt with what looks like an Easter Bonnet. That’s not you is it? Did you trade in your Indiana Jones hat for an Easter Bonnet?
OK Lee & Derrick the first picture I see of you 2 is in a bar?? What’s up with that? Oh life as usual? Love you 2.
~Mom
George,
I got a prayer flag for Grandma and Pop. I hope you can get to hang it.
Love & Hugs,
Mom
Merce,
I see by your pic that you made it in one piece (Ditto didn’t hurt you too bad????)
All quiet on the Chicago front. I turned in your furlo picks. I hope you don’t mind, I changed a few of the dates…don’t want you beating me out of anything.
Rock on…
Pakakucko
Hey Team Otto!
I sent some flags your way…please carry them to the top with LOVE! Enjoy the moments, take many photos & know that the Otto spirit is with you always! I can’t tell you how exciting this is for ALL of us. Go…Derrick ~ Lee ~ Dex!!! We love you Otto!
Love;
~Lita
Good luck Laine, Jaime and the gang.
Love,
Rick and Uncle Alfie
Erin singing into a make believe microphone… so out of character!
At least the musicians had enough sense to keep her away from real microphones. Wouldn’t want to be kicked out of the country during the first couple of days.
Mike, Kat & Co
Thinking of you all as you embark on the latest chapter of LHS. You are, as always, an inspiration to us all (I had enough trouble conquering Snowdon in the rain!) You give us the Love Hope Strength to carry on…I will be checking daily to hear your news.
Take care guys, see you in Manchester xxx
wow, i love that i can follow you every day. ONe day at a time…so amazing! Love all the pictures. Rock on LHS!
Laine!! I will be thinking of you at Yom Kippur services tonight, and how I am so proud of you and how what you are doing is such an inspiration to me. Rabbi Gamoran would be proud too!
Love you! S
Me again … flicking through the pics ,,,, nice to see Trina and Jackie have landed and look fresh and bouncy .,… But Jackie you appear to be doing some weird kind of dance with those hands looking at the picture …. the peruvian agadoo dance maybe? Ducks and runs!
to all,
enjoy the trek. take in the fresh air, as much as possible. to the everest group my thoughts of you are fresh and exciting. may you have a journey filled with everlasting memories. to the new trekkers, it seems like a daunting task but you will make it. you are in good hands. oli keep it tuned. damien and stash as always in focus and the camera too. shannon relax for a minute or two, you deserve it…
mike
Hi Shannon,
Hope your heels are healing. I saw you on the slide show.This is so great to be apart of your adventure!
Love Mom
Laine:
1. I have not quit yet.
2. Until I see a pic of you on here I’m not totally convinced you aren’t just hiding in your house with Alfie for 2 weeks…
3. HAVE FUN, I’ll be sure to tell you how skinny you look when you get back.
XO
Steph
James,
You are the poster boy for actions speak louder than words. Thinking about you and wishing everyone with you all the best.
Peace, Rod
Hey, Tony, you’re on all our minds and we know you’ll have an incredible time. We’re very proud of you!
love,
carmela.
Mercedes, Hi there, Wow can’t believe your so far away. I know a little about Peru because my girlfriend was there for adoptions. Barb and I wish you well, stay safe, and we will follow your journey!
How was your arrival sis.? I hope you are feeling great. I read the journal and it is so inspiring. I wish I was there with you. It sounds like you are meeting a lot of people from different parts of the world and building life-long memories and friendships. Please post some pics. I was happy to see you on one of the pics on the slideshow. It’s great just to know you made it safely. Love you and I will write when I can. Mom and dad say they love you and miss you very much and not to worry about your son Spooky and your kitties, they are just fine. . . oh yeah, and Daryl is good too, LOL!
Note: The message above is for Mercedes.
love to mikey boy, jules. - one armed phantom
Hi Danny Salinas! I hope you arrived muy bueno! I bought Ellie’s birthday present today online. I was clicking on The Child Health site, where clicking every day provides some money to child health worldwide. I went to the shopping area and found a blue opal necklace made by an artist from CUSCO!!! I bought it and had it shipped to Ellie at your house. I thought it would be such a cool birthday gift for her while you are there and when you will be getting back right before her 8th birthday. Plus, her necklace purchase also went toward funding health services to save or improve the lives of 9 children.
I am overwhelmed by the importance of what you are doing and for what it also means to your life. My spirit is with you. Love, Cambria
will be watching everyday good luck to everyone
will be wearing my LHS wristband throughout
make sure mike is safe for the manchester gigs in november
Just want to send our best wishes to you all on this adventure. We are thinking about you & our Love Hope & strength is with you all.( Gone Elvis please Mike for the guys on The Hack).
Nikki & Matt.
Hey Merc, day 3 and your still on the go!! I saw a picture with you in it. Hang in there and keep going . sandy and the kids are rooting for you.. sue
hey james - and all u amazing trekkers - little 7 yr old chloe, who i got one of the prayer flags for, is having a really tough time right now! they are just trying to make her and keep her as comfortable as possible…she’s a fighter with a beautiful spirit! let thoughts of her and all of those like her in peru, who you’ll be helping so much, lift your spirits when it’s tough up there!! luvya - tetia
Hi Vic and Jules,
Glad to hear you made it to Cusco today. We are all so very proud of you both! Just talked to PaPa and Loren got another 100 today, so that is 2 in a row and she was headed to Soccer practice. We are following your every move online but know that you have already made us proud!
Vic your not missing anything in the market except some ups and downs (well now it’s down some more, oh now it’s back up again just a smidge and down a lot…) We love you both, -jamie, Tiff, Loren, BeBe and PaPa
Gary! Damien! Stash!
Hope you guys are having a blast on the trip and documenting it! Have fun!
-Em
Hi Flaco, Willem is telling everyone his daddy is hiking Peru. He’s adopted my old cell phone and pretends he’s talking to you about the trip. He’s also mastered the art of chewing the same piece of gum all day long. We’ve got an awesome 3-year-old, no? We’re thinking of you and the rest of the band. Much love. -Kelly
Laine and Jaime,
I just got an email on FB that NTO is looking for advisors. Want me to sign you guys up? LOVE YOU BOTH!
Stace
Yo Kelly!
Glad you are having a good trip so far! Good look climbing up the mountains and ancient ruins and such. You should work on getting a picture of you with a llama while wearing a sweater made of llama fur.
Hugs and kisses. You are missed back in the US.
Matt
Hi Annie!!! I hope you made it there safely. Have a great time and bring back tons of pics!
Love,
Heather & Guillermo
Hi Jules
Must be nice to be there this time, rather than here isn’t it. Is the bear along for this trip (no, I don’t mean Mike! Lol)? Am missing sharing the excitement with you and Katrina though like with Everest! But have been busy putting word out around MySpace. Such a thrill when I see people now passing the word on through their own blogs. Nick’s fans have too been doing their bit. I never stop nagging them!
Take good care.
Linn x
Glad that you are all there safely! Totally laughing at Pat’s note… PLEASE take the mic from Erin or you will all be in trouble!
Love you!
Ryan…
Mission accomplished (Arrival)
Had to take the keyboard from Pop - you know some semper fi stuff was on the way! Good luck climbing!
love mom and the other half of your parentage!
Hey Dad! How is it down there! if u can message back, i cant calll grandma cause my phone didnt save her number just her name. Weird as hell. Well have fun and bring me back sumtin fool
Hi Paul C! Glad the trip is finally kicking off. Take lots of pix to show us. Don’t drink the water unless there is lots of booze in it. Have fun!
To Grandma Kathy Davies,
thinking of you and hope that you are having a great time. Max is learning to climb up the couch and onto the back of the fishtank which he thinks is very funny!! Love you!
Hey Kelly Ann-
We are thinking about you and sending you our love and support. Be safe out there.
Alyson, Scott and Maegan
Ola Kathy,
We all are following your trek online. Hope and pray you have a wonderful experience. Day three looks fabulous - when it comes to the ruins. Wish I was there, but I’m not that energetic.
Anita
Cy -
Climb the Hill and let it fly…
Hey Merc, Saw your picture, hope you’re doing well(stay away from the pisco). Spooky & Cisco say hello. Miss ya, take care.
Merce,
Our classmate at SLD has goodies for you, if you can tell me where to ship them, or if I can ship them. Even if it’s an ify thing, I can give it a shot.
I know your communication ability is limited…
The Commissioner
Laine,
Hope you are doing well! I am wondering how you are surviving with a limited number of shoes and hand bags. Seriously though, you are an inspiration. I am proud of you!
Love ya,
Leash
To All:
My best wishes and thoughts are sent your way to Peru from sunny Orange County California. What tremendous strong hearts(and legs!)you must all have:) I shall watch from the sidelines and cheer ALL of you on in your Journey of “Love Hope and Strength” for the great people of Peru ~ ROCKS!
God Bless,
Alan
Nick,
Love you daddy!! Miss you and hope you’re having a great time! I’ve got a day off school tomorrow and I won’t stop thinking about you!! Btw, at Harvo’s parents’ evening, his teacher says he’s working very hard!!
Love you lots!
Thanks for all the messages! We love hearing from all of you!
Messaging for this day has closed. Send us a message by clicking on the next journal entry… (top right of page)
from,
LOVE HOPE STRENGTH!
I have been following your journey via your journals & pictuers and all I can say is “WOW”. You are all truly an inspiration.
To my Foley sisters - you look like you are having so much fun and I wish SO much I was there with you. Next year (when I am in back in CO) I will be there with you for sure. Hope you will be back to watch your Phillies in the World Series. Red Sox may go down tonight…finger crossed!!! Love & miss you tons, Missy & Cassidy XOXOXO
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